Pressing machine



Aug. 7, 1956 J. R. PETRE PRESSING MACHINE 2 Sheets--Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1954 INVENNR. .Jb/wv R. PAW-RE WM ATTORNEYS Aug. 7, 1956 J. R. PETRE PRESSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1954 United States Patent PRESSING MACHINE John R. Petre, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio,

a corporation of ()hio The invention relates to pressing machines for finishing the body portions of garments such as shirts and the like. Merely as an example, and in no sense limiting, the invention will be described in connection with the finish pressing of a mans shirt.

Machines of this type have in the past included an upright shirt-receiving form, hereinafter termed a buck, on which the shirt to be ironed is draped or dressed, after which two complementary pressing members are advanced from opposed positions into pressing contact with the shirt and buck to produce the pressing eifect.

As a more efiicient development in the prior art, apparatus has been devised wherein two or more bucks are provided in a working unit for alternate or successive cooperation-with a pair of complementary pressing members, and wherein one said buck, with a garment thereon, is moved to pressing position while another said buck is simultaneously moved away from said pressing position to a dressing position for undressing a finished shirt and dressing another shirt for the next pressing operation.

In the prior art devices heretofore or now in use there are various structural or operational disadvantages which prevent the fullest operating efiiciency. In addition such prior art devices were usually so structurally complex as to be cumbersome and expensive. I

In a copending joint application of George W. Johnson and myself, filed concurrently herewith, Serial No. 408,174We describe and claim a pressing machine having a pair of 'co-operating relatively movable pressing chests, a pair of pressing bucks, and means for moving said bucks simultaneously in opposite directions along generally I parallel and adjacent paths between a pressing station at one end of said paths and a dressing station at the other end of said paths, there being sufficient transverse clearance between the paths to permit the bucks to pass each other while moving in their respective paths. In the embodiment shown and described in said copending application, means is also provided for moving said bucks transversely to respective pressing and dressing position at the termination of their span of lateral travel.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the general character described in the last preceding paragraph, and shown and describedin said'copending application, but wherein one of said bucks moves laterally from the dressing station to the pressing station, and reversely, in a rectilinear path, but wherein the other said buck moves from the pressing station to the dressing station in a non rectilinear path, the paths being so disposed that at their intermediate points there is sufiicient transverse clearance between them to permit thebucks to pass each other without interference, but as they approach their end points thepaths converge to coincidence, so that each buck, whether it travels in the rectilinear or non-rectilinear path, arrives at a common position both at the pressing station and the dressing station.

A further object of the invention is to provide means ,as characterized in the last preceding paragraph wherein one said buck travels in said non-rectilinear path as a re- Patented Aug. 7, 1956 2 sult of the simultaneous application thereto of motive forces at right angles to each other, one applied laterally and one transversely, whereby the actual path of travel of the buck is the resultant of said forces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of generally parallel tracks extending adjacently between a pressing station and a dressing station, one said buck having a carriage which moves undeviatingly laterally on its rectilinear track, the other said buck also having a carriage which likewise moves laterally on another rectilinear track, said last named carriage having buck-carrying means disposed for transverse movement thereon, there being guiding means effective on said buck-carrying means to cause said last named means to deviate sufficiently from a rectilinear path to permit the two bucks to pass each other between a pressing station and a dressing station.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following description of one embodiment of my invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of'a pressing machine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the power and sequence control system.

Before proceeding to a detailed study of the elements of the pressing machine it may be helpful to briefly glance at Fig. 3 to acquire a general impression of the sequence of movements of the bucks and chests (all shown in broken lines) in a complete cycle. The bucks are identified by reference characters 11 and 12, and the chests by reference characters 13 and 14. The broken lines designated by the letters A and B represent the paths of lateral movement of the respective bucks 11 and 12. The dressing position is at the left ofFigs. .l and 3, and in Fig. 3 it is occupied by buck 12. ln Fig. l the buck 12 is shown in full line in the dressing position, and in broken line it appears in passing position. The significance of the term passing is apparent from Fig. 1 wherein the bucks 11 and 12 are indicated as passin each other, with clearance, at the mid point of their lateral travel to reverse positions. Movement of the bucks between the dressing and pressing positions will be hereinafter termed lateral movement. In the embodiment diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3, and structurally in Fig. 1, the buck Ill recipro- "ice cates laterally in a rectilinear path A, but the buck 12 7 travels in a curved path B which is the resultant of two forces, one being directed laterally, parallel to path A and the other transversely, at right angles to path A, in the plane of the drawing. As indicated in Fig. .3 the paths converge to coincidence at each end, namely in the dressing and pressing positions, but the divergence at an intermediate location is sufiicient to permit them to pass eachother without interference. As will appear, therefore, buckll is mounted for lateral movement only, which movement brings it into the dressing and pressing positions. The mounting of buck 12 is somewhat more elaborate, as will appear, so as to permit it to be conveyedlaterally through a non-rectilinear path, but nevertheless the longitudinal horizontal axis of the buck l2 maintains the same orientation as that of buck 11, so that. at the pressing position they are in proper alignment with chests13 and 14. V

.Theoperating elements, and the means for achieving the successive cyclical movements will now he described, with reference particularly to Figs. 1 and 2.

Buck 11 is mounted for straight line movement only. It is secured upon a lateral carriage 15 which has two vertically-spaced sets of Toners 16 grooved on their peripheries to roll on track bars 17. The track bars, at

Buck 12 is likewise carried on a carriage 19 adapted for lateral movement by means of its rollers 20 which operate on lateral track bars 21. At its top the carriage 19 has attached thereto a fixed platform 24 carrying rollers 25 for rotation in a transverse plane.

Rollers 25 are spaced and disposed to receive in their grooved peripheries movable rods 26 to which are attached a carriage bracket 27 carrying the buck 12. It will be apparent from a glance at Fig. 2 that buck 12 may travel transversely (right to left and return) by means of movement of rods 26 on rollers 25, that is to say, by transverse movement of carriage 27, and the assembly of carriage 19 and carriage 27 may move laterally (right to left and return, Fig. l) on track bars 21.

Attached to rods 26 at their ends is a cross piece 28 which has a depending arm 29 carrying a horizontally disposed roller 30 travelling in a curved guiding track 31 which is fixed with respect to the machine frame by means of a frame bracket 32 and end standards 33.

As carriage 19 is moved laterally roller 30 must remain in its guide track 31, and consequently carriage 27 with buck 12 are acted upon not only by the laterally applied force but also by the transversely applied force resulting from the necessity of roller 30 following its arcuate track. Consequently buck 12 will actually follow a path which is parallel to guide track 31. It is only necessary to move carriage 19 endwise, to produce this resultant non-rectilinear motion. In the aforesaid co-pending application of myself with G. W. Johnson, we show laterally and transversely movable bucks, but the lateral movement of each buck is completed before transverse movement is initiated, and two power sources are provided for moving the bucks, one source for the lateral movement and another source for the transverse movement. In the present apparatus only one power source is required, namely the one soon to be described for producing lateral movement. The transverse movement results from the arcuate track and the roller linkage just described hereinabove. The amount of transverse movement is small in relation to lateral movement, so that the slope of the track is not great, thereby avoiding undue side thrust and twist on the several rollers. The shape of the curved track need not be an arc of a circle, but may be of any non-rectilinear contour which permits buck 12 to pass buck 11 in transit. As a matter of fact, if space limitations permitted, carriage 27 could be mounted, for example, on a pivoted lever, or otherwise to provide any desired are between the dressing and pressing stations although the present arrangement is simple, positive, and easily operated and is therefore preferred.

Each lateral carriage and 19 is connected at the bottom to a continuous chain 36. The straight runs of the chain extend somewhat past the stations for dressing and pressing so as to accommodate a carriage connection to the chain without requiring such connection to travel around a curve. The chain runs on sprocket wheels 37 journalled at 38 in the base. Sprocket 37 is compounded with another sprocket 39 of a smaller pitch diameter which latter is driven by a chain 40. This drive chain goes around not only the drive sprocket 39, but also around idler sprockets 41, 42, 43 (Fig. 1) and is connected by a slide member 44 with the piston rod 45 of an air cylinder 46. Member 44 is slidable on a guide bar 47 fixed with respect to the frame to maintain the piston rod in axial linear thrust. The drive sprocket 39 may be one-half the circumference of the driven sprocket as here shown, whereby the motion of the driving chain is doubled in the driven chain, which allows the air cylinder to be of more practical length.

The pressing chests 13 and 14 are heated by steam in the usual way through upper and lower flexible conduits 50. Chest 13 has rearwardly extending round track bars 51 joined at their rear ends by a cross piece 511:. The bars ride between rollers 52 on frame section 53.

The chest is operated by a toggle 54 powered by an air cylinder 55, and normally in retracted position by reason of a tension spring 56.

Chest 14 has rearwardly extending bars 57 in slide bearings 58 on cross members 59 fixed to the frame. Chest 14 is operated by an air motor 60 mounted on the frame, and having a piston rod 61 directly connected to the chest. The chest is normally held retracted by a tension spring 62.

Fig. 2 shows the bucks in passing position, which position is indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1. In the full line position buck 12 has just arrived at the dressing station and would have a finished garment dressed thereon, while buck 11 has just reached the pressing station. Actuation of the apparatus to arrive at this position was achieved as follows.

Operation of foot pedal 65 causes the actuator 65a to open the combination inlet-exhaust valve 66 and allow similar valve 67 to close. With the controls in this position, as shown, the air from supply pipe 68 passes through valve 66, pipe 69, pipe 69a, valve 70 and pipe 71 to the rear inlet of cylinder motor 46 holding its piston 46a in full forward position. This has moved the bucks to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the carriage 15 being 7 held against the stop member 72, which stop is preferably somewhat resilient. The stop 73 which stops the other lateral carriage 19 is somewhat longer than stop 72, and this is because the two carriages are of difierent lengths but the bucks must come to substantially identical pressing positions.

Air is also going from pedal valve 66 by pipes 69 and 74 to valve 75 which has just been opened by a lug or finger 76 on carriage 15, and air is going through pipe 77 to a slide or piston valve 78 so as to move its piston member to the left, closing the left hand inlet port and establishing communication with the central outlet. Air consequently goes through pipe 79 and to the inlet of motor 55 which begins to advance its piston and operate toggle 54 to close chest 13. A side port 550 is positioned to admit air to pipe 80 and to motor 60. As heretofore mentioned, energization of motor 60 closes chest 14, the timing being such that both chests contact the buck substantially simultaneously. The piston strokes, toggle length, and compressed size of spring 62 are so dimensioned that the chests achieve full pressure contact when the operating elements reach their limit of operating movement.

As chest 13 moved from retracted position a valve actuator 82 released valve 70, and its presently inefiective companion valve 83, allowing them to close. Closure of valve 70 cuts off air to the buck-moving motor 46, and the bucks are unrestrained as the chests move into contact.

The parts maintain this position while the operator changes garments on buck 12. The pedal 65 is then moved to the opposite side allowing valve 66 to close, and causing valve 67 to open. The air in the chest motors exhausts. Air in cylinder 55 escapes through pipe 79, slide valve 78, pipe 77, valve 75, and pipes 74 and 69 to valve 66, and out its exhaust port 660. Motor 60 exhausts through pipe 80, cylinder 55, pipe 79 and slide valve 78 (etc. as before) until the piston of motor 55 passes its side port 550, after which exhaust is completed through the usual front vent of motor 55. The chests are retracted by their respective springs 56 and 62.

When chest 13 retracted to open position the valve actuator 82 opens valve 83 and now inactive valve 70. Air from pedal valve 67 goes to valve 83 pipes 84 and 85 and thence by pipe 86 to the front inlet of motor 46. Motor 46 moves the bucks to opposite positions. When buck 12 reaches the pressing station, its carriage lug 87 (Fig. 2) opens valve 88 admitting air by pipe 89 to the left inlet of slide valve 78, moving its piston member 780 to the right end and admitting air through its central outlet through pipe 79 and thence to the chest motors whereupon the buck-moving motor automatically reverses the buck positions, and arrival of either buck at pressing position automatically energizes the chest motors to close the chests while de-energizing the buck motor. This is a complete cycle, identical after each operation of the pedal 65 except that arrival of the two bucks alternately at pressing position results in actuation of respectively different valves to achieve the results noted.

To temporarily terminate a series of cycles the pedal 65a is moved to an intermediate or neutral position as the undressed buck approaches the pressing station. Any convenient'means may be used to maintain the pedal in neutral, such as a detent catch co-operating with the adjacent frame member.

Maintenance of the member 65a in neutral position permits valves 66 and 67 to close whereupon the chests remain openand the bucks stop.

In order to effect a smooth movement of the bucks from one station to the other, Without heavy impact at both ends of the trip, a self-actuated regulator has been incorporated in the buck-moving motor 46. As seen in Fig. 3, when air is admitted at the end of the cylinder, the left end being suitable for purposes of explanation in the present instance, it moves the piston to the right. When the piston 46a passes the first side port 4612 some air enters pipe 92 but stops at closed check valve 93. When the piston approaches the central port 46c, the bucks are in motion and it is desirable to begin deceleration since they are of substantial mass and substantial momentum is developed. Accordingly, when the piston has passed central port 460, the air enters pipes 94 and 95 and through check valve 96 and pipe 97 into the right end of the cylinder ahead of the piston. An escape path is provided through pipe 71, valve 70 which is open, pipes 69a and 69, and the exhaust port 66a of valve 66. There is a dash pot eifect which opposes piston motion, but insufiicient to stop it. The resistance is sufiicient, however, to bring the bucks almost to a stop as they arrive at final'position. At this point the piston covers port 46d, terminating the opposing pressure, and full pressure is again applied to the piston to assure movement of the bucks to final position.

It may be observed, by reason of the disposition and orientation of the check valves, that the same braking action is also effective in the next cycle, when the piston is moving in the opposite direction. In this case the escape passage for the braking air is through pipe 86, valve 83, pipes 85 and 84, and the exhaust port 6711 of valve 67.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, in combination, one pair only of co-operating pressing chests, a pressing station between said chests, a dressing station removed from said chests, means for producing relative approach and withdrawal movement between said chests, a pair of pressing bucks, means for moving said bucks simultaneously in opposite directions, each in a single continuous path, between said pressing station and said dressing sta tion, said paths deviating sufficiently from each other at an intermediate location to permit said bucks to pass each other in transit.

2. In a pressing machine, in combination, one pair only of co-operating pressing chests, a pressing station between said chests, a dressing station removed from said chests, means for producing relative approach and withdrawal movement between said chests, a pair of upright pressing bucks, means for moving said bucks simultaneously in opposite directions, each in a continuous path, between said pressing station and said dressing station, said paths substantially coinciding at their ends but deviating sutficiently from each other at an intermediate location to permit said bucks to pass each other in transit.

. location to permit .said bucks to pass each otherin transit, at least one said path being non-rectilinear.

4. In a pressing machine, in combination, one pair only of co-operating pressing chests, a pressing station between said chests, .a dressing station removed from said chests, means for producing relative approach and withdrawal movement between said chests, a pair of upright pressing bucks, means for moving one said buck in a rectilinear path between said pressing station and said dressing station, and means for moving the other said buck simultaneously but in the opposite direction and in a non-rectilinear path between said pressing station and said dressing station, said paths deviating sulficiently from each other at an intermediate location to permit said bucks to pass each other in transit.

5. In a pressing machine, a pair of co-operating pressing chests, means for producing relative approach and withdrawal movement between said chests, a pair of pressing bucks, said bucks being movable simultaneously in opposite directions, between a pressing station, situated between said chests and a dressing station removed from said chests, and means for moving one said buck in a non-rectilinear path comprising a laterally extending track, a lateral carriage movable along said track, a transverse carriage movable on said lateral carriage, said last-named buck being fixed on said transverse carriage, a non-rectilinear guide track, a follower travelling on said guide track, and linkage means connecting said follower and said transverse carriage whereby said transverse carriage is responsive in its directional travel to the directional travel of said follower.

6. In a pressing machine, a pair of co-operating pressing chests, means for producing relative approach and withdrawal movement between said chests, a pair of pressing bucks, said bucks being movable simultaneously in opposite directions between a pressing station, situated between said chests, and a dressing station removed from said chests, and means for moving one said buck in a nonrectilinear path comprising a lateral carriage movable between said pressing and dressing stations, a transverse carriage movable on said lateral carriage, said last-named buck being fixed on said transverse carriage, a nonrectilinear guide track, a follower traveling on said guide track, and linkage means connecting said follower and said transverse carriage whereby said transverse carriage is responsive in its directional travel to the directional travel of said follower.

7. In a pressing machine, a pair of co-operating pressing chests, means for producing relative approach and Withdrawal movement between said chests, a first pressing buck and a second pressing buck, said bucks being movable simultaneously in opposite directions in respective paths between a pressing station, situated between said chests, and a dressing station removed from said chests, means for moving said first pressing buck laterally in a non-rectilinear path comprising a lateral carriage movable between said pressing and dressing stations, a transverse carriage movable on said lateral carriage, said first pressing buck being fixed on said transverse carriage, a non-rectilinear guide track, a follower traveling on said guide track, linkage means connecting said follower and said transverse carriage whereby said transverse carriage is responsive in its directional travel to the directional travel of said follower, and means for moving said second pressing buck laterally between said pressing station and said dressing station comprising a second lateral carriage, said second buck being fixed on said lateral carriage, the path of travel of each said buck being so predisposed with respect to the other that said bucks may pass each other in transit, but said paths converging at their ends respectively at said pressing and dressing stations.

8. In a pressing machine a pair of co-operating pressing chests, means for producing relative approach and withdrawal movement between said chests, a first pressing buck and a second pressing buck, said bucks being movable simultaneously in opposite directions in respective paths between a pressing station, situated between said chests, and a dressing station removed from said chests, means for moving said first pressing buck laterally in a non-rectilinear path comprising a first lateral track extending between said pressing and dressing stations, a first lateral carriage movable on said first lateral track, a

transverse carriage movable on said lateral carriage, said .4

first pressing buck being fixed on said transverse carriage,

a non-rectilinear guide track, a follower traveling on said guide track, linkage means connecting said follower and said transverse carriage whereby said transverse carriage is responsive in its directional travel to the directional travel of said follower, means for moving said second buck laterally between said pressing station and said dressing station comprising a second lateral track, a second lateral carriage movable on said track, said second buck being fixed on said second lateral carriage, said first and second lateral tracks being adjacent each other, but the path 02 travel of said first buck responsive to said follower being so disposed to the path of travel of said second buck on said second track that said bucks may pass each other in transit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,203,359 McDougal June 4. 1940 2,395,466 Couch Feb. 26, 1946 2,698,705 Hitz Ian. 4, 1955 

